Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 15, 2020
First Reading: Isaiah 10.5-7, 13-16
5Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!6Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.7But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few;13For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I remove the boundaries of peoples, and plunder their treasures; like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones.14My hand has found like a nest the wealth of the peoples; and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken, so I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved a wing or opened the mouth or chirped."15Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!16Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire.
Psalm 94
1O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth!2Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!3O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?4They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.5They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage.6They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless;7and they say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive."8Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?9He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?10He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge--11the LORD--knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.12Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,13to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.14For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;15for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.16Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers?17If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.18When I thought, "My foot slips," your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.19When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.20Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute?21They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.22But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.23He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out.
Gospel: Matthew 11.25-27
25At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the interplay between human pride and divine wisdom. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a prophetic critique of Assyria, a powerful empire that had grown arrogant in its dominance. Assyria, though a tool of God’s judgment against Israel, began to attribute its success to its own strength and wisdom rather than to God. Isaiah warns that such pride will lead to its downfall, for no created thing can exalt itself above the Creator. This passage reminds us that all human power is fleeting and that true strength comes from humility and dependence on God.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers a complementary reflection when he praises the Father for revealing divine truths to “little ones” rather than to the wise and the prudent. Here, Jesus emphasizes the importance of humility and simplicity in receiving God’s revelation. The “little ones” are those who recognize their limitations and are open to receiving wisdom as a gift from God. This passage challenges us to let go of our self-reliance and intellectual pride, trusting instead in God’s gracious plan to reveal Himself to those who are humble of heart.
Together, these readings call us to examine our own attitudes toward power and knowledge. In a world that often celebrates self-reliance and ambition, we are reminded that true wisdom and strength come from acknowledging our dependence on God. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to cultivate humility, recognizing that all we have and all we know are gifts from God. May we, like the “little ones,” remain open to His revelation and trust in His providence, avoiding the pitfalls of pride that lead to division and destruction.